Search

The gut-brain axis refers to the bidirectional connection and communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. This paper explores two routes for this communication that have hitherto remained under-examined: epigenetics and redox signaling and their implications for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The gut microbiota may induce epigenetic changes in the gut and potentially in the brain through their fermentation products. Instead of through other conceptualizations of them acting as neurotransmitters, gut microbial products may act as epigenetic agents, which are supported by the effects of gut bacterial-derived metabolites on gene regulation and expression. In addition to their epigenetic effects, gut bacterial-derived communicative agents can also influence host signaling by contributing to and even substituting host reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These ROS can act as second messengers and exert oxidative activity on proteins to influence immune, inflammatory, and other signaling processes. ROS and epigenetic mechanisms may have interactive effects as well. ROS, in addition to their role in signaling pathways and cellular redox alterations, also influence redox-sensitive transcription factors, thereby having an effect on gene expression. Specifically, ROS are involved in the activation of transcription factors, chromatin remodeling, and histone/protein deacetylation. These two proposed mechanisms correspond with the recent findings related to ASD, where a cofactor that is shown to be lower in ASD has antioxidative properties, responds to epigenetic modulation, and increases via microbiota interventions. The current evidence reviewed here suggests the need to update models of the gut-brain communication to include these two mechanisms. Such a modeling can also contribute to understanding the unknowns of host metabolism and physiology in ASD and afford potential therapeutic avenues for this as well as other psychiatric and physiological conditions.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an etiologically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition that eludes a single explanation or cure. Epidemiological studies reveal risk factors, relevant comorbidities, and behavioral correlates to reach a better understanding of ASD. To contribute such data from an understudied ASD population, this paper presents epidemiological data from a Turkish sample of individuals with ASD (n = 911, 748 boys (82.1%) and 163 girls (17.9%) between 1 and 18 years of age). Average age at diagnosis was 31.06 +/- 11.88 months, and the male-to-female ratio was 4.6:1. Three in 4 individuals with ASD had obsessive behaviors, and 1 in 4 had allergic conditions, inappropriate sexual behaviors, self-harming behaviors, and harmful behaviors towards others. One in 3 received a dietary treatment for at least 3 months; almost half received vitamin supplements; the majority (70%) did not experience constipation; and 2 in 3 were picky eaters. This paper presents data on the age of diagnosis, gender ratios, accompanying behaviors, and dietary interventions in Turkish individuals with ASD, which are topics of current research interest about ASD. Such data from non-Western populations may supplement epidemiological knowledge gained from Western populations to help reach a more comprehensive understanding of this condition with many unknowns. WOS:000658616700001 Q4

Objectives:Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental conditiona that manifests with impairments in social interactions and communication and repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. It is known that autism spectrum disorder is accompanied by medical comorbidities, and as the number of accompanying comorbidities increase, the intensity of aberrant behaviors also increases in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Yet, how subgroups of aberrant behaviors relate to physical complaints with unknown primary etiology in autism spectrum disorder has not yet been investigated. Understanding and solving these physical problems can improve the quality of life of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, as interventions should not only address core autism spectrum disorder symptoms but also all physical complaints affecting an individual’s life. Additionally, an examination of such a relation may help better understand the underlying mechanisms of autism spectrum disorder.Materials and Methods:In this study, in 64 individuals with autism spectrum disorder (11 girls) aged between 6 and 18 years, the relationship between the physical complaints subcategory of Child Behavior Checklist and the severity of autism spectrum disorderaccording to Childhood Autism Rating Scale was examined. Additionally, the relationship between physical complaints and the subgroups of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist was evaluated.Results:A significant positive correlation was found between physical symptoms and autism spectrum disorder severity. Among the five factors of this checklist (irritability, agitation, crying; lethargy, social withdrawal; stereotypic behavior; hyperactivity, non-compliance; inappropriate speech), only hyperactivity/non-compliance and inappropriate speech correlated with physical complaints. This relationship was independent of sociodemographic factors such as child age, parental age, and parental education.Conclusion:These findings indicate that children with autism spectrum disorder who exhibit extreme mobility and disobedience are at risk of physical discomfort. In addition to psychiatric and psychologic examinations, a comprehensive and holistic approach should be adopted for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, especially for those individuals experiencing physical problems.

Self-compassion refers to being kind, understanding, and accepting toward oneself in times of failure, frustration, or negative feelings. Since self-compassion is related to both physical and psychological well-being, measuring and understanding self-compassion in different populations carries importance for their mental well-being and life satisfaction outcomes. One such group is the youth, who experience unique developmental challenges. For this purpose, a Self-Compassion Scale for Youth (SCS-Y) was developed (Neff et al., 2021) and this paper presents its Turkish adaptation. The Turkish translation of SCS-Y was tested on a sample of Turkish youth (N = 450, 61.8% female, Mage= 13.09 ± 1.59, range = 11–15) and was found to have acceptable reliability. The scale showed a similar structure to the original testing on American youth with a bifactor model of a general self-compassion score and six subscale scores, and a two-bifactor model where negative and positive aspects are grouped together. Self-compassion was positively related to resilience and well-being, and negatively related to depression. A serial mediation analysis showed self-compassion to have a direct and positive effect on resilience, and to have an indirect effect on well-being mediated by resilience and depression. Given that the trainable skill of self-compassion is associated with higher resilience, lower depression, and better well-being, the value of this scale and its different adaptations becomes evident, as they enable measuring self-compassion in youth in various populations such as the present Turkish one and guiding the design of future interventions to increase self-compassion, targeted for the specific concerns of the youth.

Background: Sensory problems are a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and tailoring the interventions according to sensory profiles yields better prognosis. Objective: This study profiled the sensory symptoms of children with ASD and their sociodemographic and behavioral correlates. Material and Methods: The sample included 911 Turkish children with ASD (748 male and 163 female) aged between 1-18 years. The study was conducted as an internet survey. Results: Almost all children had a sensory problem in at least one sensory domain. The parents stated that almost half of the children received sensory integration therapy (SIT) and that 3 out of 4 of these children benefited from this method. The rate of receiving SIT for their children with ASD was higher in children of mothers and fathers who had higher education levels. Two out of 3 parents reported that their children have hyperactivity, sleep problems, and food selectivity. Obsessive behaviors were 2 times higher in children with ASD who took non-food objects in their mouths, and almost 7 times more common in children who watched rotating objects. The rates of spinning around themselves, taking nonfood objects in their mouths, and hyperactivity were significantly higher in children who experienced sleep-related problems. Conclusion: This study documents the sensory problems of Turkish children with ASD and how they relate with other behavioral domains, which can be useful for determining the most appropriate therapeutic approaches., Amaç: Duyusal sorunlar, otizm spektrum bozukluğu (OSB)’na sıklıkla eşlik etmektedir. OSB’ye yönelik müdahaleleri bireylerin duyusal profillerine göre adapte etmek daha iyi bir prognoz sağlayabilir. Bu çalışma, OSB’li çocukların duyusal semptomlarını ve bu semptomların onların sosyodemografik ve davranışsal özellikleri ile ilişkilerini incelemiştir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Örnekleme, 1-18 yaşları arasındaki 911 Türk OSB’li (748 erkek ve 163 kız) çocuk dahil edilmiştir. Çalışma, bir internet araştırması olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bulgular: Dahil edilen çocukların neredeyse tamamının en az bir duyusal alanda problem yaşadığı, ebeveynleri tarafından bildirilmiştir. Ebeveynlerin yarısı, çocuklarının duyusal bütünleme terapisi (DBT) aldığını ve alan çocukların 4’te 3’ünün bu yöntemden yararlandığını belirtmiştir. DBT alma oranının, yüksek eğitim düzeyine sahip annelerin ve babaların çocuklarında daha yüksek olduğu görülmüştür. Her 3 ebeveynden 2’si çocuklarında hiperaktivite, uyku sorunu ve gıda seçiciliği durumlarının görüldüğünü bildirmiştir. Ayrıca, obsesif davranışların, ağızlarında yiyecek olmayan cisimleri alan OSB’li çocuklarda 2 kat, dönen cisimleri izleyen çocuklarda ise yaklaşık 7 kat daha fazla görüldüğü belirlenmiştir. Uykuya bağlı problemler yaşayan çocuklarda, kendi etrafında dönme, ağızlarında yiyecek olmayan nesneler alma ve hiperaktivite oranları anlamlı derecede yüksek bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Bu çalışma, OSB’li Türk çocuklarının duyusal sorunlarını ve bu sorunların diğer davranışsal alanlarla ilişkilerini göstermektedir. Böylece, OSB’li bireyler için en uygun terapötik yaklaşımlara yönlendirmelerini sağlamakta fayda sağlayabileceği düşünülmektedir..

Recently, the need for a mental health technology revolution during COVID-19 was noted (1). These authors suggested that interventions should be targeted toward vulnerable groups and adapted to their individual needs (1), and we have expanded this concept here. One vulnerable group that will benefit from such a technology revolution and targeted interventions comprises individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We discuss how technology can be leveraged to address the specific challenges experienced by these individuals and their families during the pandemic.

Amac: Otizm spektrum bozuklugu, dunya capinda yayginligi giderek artan fakat sebepleri hala tamamen bilinmeyen, norogelisimsel bir farkliliktir. Otizmli bireyler, sosyal beceri ve iletisim zorluklari yasarlar; tekrar eden ve kisitlayici ilgi alanlari ile davranislar gosterirler. Otizmin bilinen bir tedavisi veya otizmin butun unsurlarini aciklayabilen kapsamli bir model henuz yoktur. Yontem: Son yillarda bircok hastaligin rejeneratif tedavisinde oldukca yaygin olarak kullanilan kok hucrelerden, uyarilmis pluripotent kok hucre (UPKH), otizmin sebeplerinin daha iyi anlasilmasi icin umut vaat edicidir. Bulgular: UPKH’ler ile yurutulen otizm modellemeleri, otizme neden olan mekanizmalarin anlasilmasi, bozukluklarin duzeltilmesi ve kisiye ozel tedavilerin gelistirilmesi icin cesitli firsatlar sunmaktadir. Sonuc: Bu derleme, UPKH’lerin su ana kadar otizmdeki kullanim alanlarini, avantajlarini ve UPKH modellemeleri ile elde edilen bulgulari incelemektedir.

Konuşma güçlüğü çeken bireylerin iletişim kurmalarına yardımcı olanAlternatif Destekleyici İletişim (ADİ) teknikleri, mobil cihazlarda yer almayave yaygın olarak kullanılmaya başlamıştır. ADİ yöntemlerinin konuşma zorluklarıyaşayan bireylerin hayatlarını kolaylaştırdığı daha önce yapılan çalışmalarlagösterilmiştir. Özellikle otizm spektrum bozukluğu (OSB) için faydalarısıklıkla dile getirilen ADİ uygulamalarının gerçek hayatta nasıl kullanıldığınıyansıtan verilerin sunulduğu bir çalışma henüz bulunmamaktadır. Bu çalışmanınamacı, OSB’ye sahip bireylerin okulda gördükleri eğitime ek olarak sunulan birADİ sisteminin kullanım verilerini incelemek ve bu tür uygulamalarıngeliştirilmesi adına faydalı olmaktır. Bu çalışmada, mobil cihazları çocuklariçin evde eğitim platformuna dönüştüren Otsimo uygulamasında bulunan ADİmodülünden toplanan anonim veriler analiz edilerek raporlanmıştır. Mevcut seslendirmeyöntemlerinden elde edilen veriler incelenmiş, en çok kullanılan kelimelersunularak bu kelimelerin sık kullanımına yol açabilecek olası sebeplerbelirtilmiştir. Bu analizlerin sonucunda elde edilen veriler üzenden iletişimbozukluğu yaşayan bireylerin günlük hayatlarını kolaylaştırabilmek ve ADİuygulamalarını geliştirmek adına öneriler sunulmuştur., Augmentative and Alternative Communication(AAC) is a technique that helps individuals with speech problems tocommunicate. They help individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who havelanguage difficulties express themselves. AAC tools have started appearing inmobile platforms and are becoming more widespread. Though some research pointsto the advantages of AAC tools for special needs populations, no studies haveyet presented or analyzed data about real life utilization of these tools bytargeted individuals. The aim of this study was to analyze the data collectedfrom the AAC module in Otsimo, an application that turns mobile devices intoeducational platforms for children with ASD, and to present suggestions for theimprovement of AAC modules based on this data. The words that were used themost were determined for different utilization methods and possible reasons fortheir high utilization were listed. Then, recommendations were made in order tofacilitate the creation of more user-friendly AAC tools to assist and improvethe life qualities of individuals with communication disorders and otherdisorders with implicated language problems such as ASD.

We conducted the first study on Turkish children with autism and tablet computers, with a web-based iPad application designed especially for them. We performed a pilot study on three Turkish boys of different ages with autism to observe their reactions to the tablet application and its effectiveness in teaching the sequencing skill, which is part of their educational curriculum. Our application had a testing session with no prompts or rewards and a teaching session with prompts, rewards, and demonstration of correct responses. First, our participants played the testing session to determine their baseline sequencing abilities. Next, they played the teaching session. Finally, they played the testing session again to see if they were now able to sequence the cards on their own. Through this application, the 11-year-old boy's sequencing skills improved without external help, via only the prompts and reinforcements of the iPad application. The application was not enough to teach sequencing to the 4-year-old, who required external help, and it was too simple for the 15-year-old, who did not use any prompts and quickly became bored. Based on our findings, we discuss how to improve similar sequencing applications and offer suggestions for designing iPad applications for individuals with autism.

There is a well-established relationship between theory of mind (ToM) and executive function (EF) during the preschool years. However, less is known about the concurrent and longitudinal relations between EF and specific tasks tapping different aspects of ToM. The current study investigated the ToM-EF relationship across 1 year in 3- to 5-year-old Turkish children using the ToM battery of Wellman and Liu (2004), which measures understanding of diverse desires (DD), diverse beliefs (DB), knowledge access (KA), contents false belief (CFB), explicit false belief (EFB), and hidden emotion (HE). This battery has not yet been used in its entirety to test the predictive relations between ToM and EF. We used peg tapping and day-night tasks to measure EF. Our sample comprised 150 Turkish preschool children (69 girls) aged 36-60 months at Time 1 (T1) and 49-73 months at Time 2 (T2). Using the ToM composite with all six tasks, when child's age, receptive language, and T1 ability level (EF or ToM) were controlled, T1 EF significantly predicted T2 ToM, whereas Tl ToM did not predict 12 EF. Among DD, DB, KA, false belief understanding (FBU: the composite score of CFB and EFB), and HE, only KA and FBU were significantly associated with EF at T1 and T2. Further regression analyses showed that KA did not have a predictive relationship with EF. Instead, FBU drove the predictive EF-ToM relationship across time. Thus, in Turkish children, earlier EF predicts later ToM, but especially the FBU component, in this well-validated battery. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Inc.